Carefully Think

• Think back through what we discussed last week in Numbers 1-25 and the illustrations of Israel”™s mere external obedience (1-10) and their growing internal unfaithfulness (11-25). What glimpses of God”™s mercy and faithfulness to them were evident, even in their judgment and discipline?
• Read through Numbers 26-36 and summarize the major ideas that you see here. Which generation of Israelites are they being given to? Why would they need to hear these things again?

Prayerfully Meditate

• The New Testament mentions a number of sections found in the book of Numbers.  Read each passage below and see if you can discover where in Numbers the New Testament author is referring and what is the corresponding lesson for a Christian.
  • John 3:1-15
  • 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
  • Hebrews 3:7-4:16
  • How has God demonstrated specific acts of grace and mercy to you this past week? How has he treated you in regard to specific acts of sin you have committed against Him? How is God”™s faithfulness affecting you, especially in light of the times of unfaithfulness you have seen in your heart and life this past week? How should this affect your worship as we gather this Sunday?

Intentionally Act

• Confess any sin you have been made aware of, reminding yourself of what Christ did on the cross to satisfy God”™s righteousness and what God has done to give you Christ”™s righteousness.
• Pray that you will be sensitive not only to any unfaithfulness in your heart, but especially to the faithful acts of God displayed in your life in unique and specific ways this past week. List them. Use these in an expression of praise and thanksgiving to God that renews your heart.
• Pray for those who will attend Sunday who do not know Christ ““ that they will be convinced of their need and believe.
• Pray for those leading the service Sunday (Dawson Bryant, music; Brett Harris, prayer and Scripture reading, Bret Capranica, teaching).  Pray that they will assist the congregation in acceptable praise to Christ. Pray for all of those who will be assisting in the worship (instrumentalists, visual and audio techs, ushers, etc.).
• Meditate on the lyrics of the songs for Sunday and listen to each throughout the weekend, saturating your heart with the praise we will lift up to Christ together.

Songs for Sunday

Come Now Almighty King

All People That On Earth Do Dwell

Praise The Father, Praise The Son

Unchanging

I Have A Shelter

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Lyrics

Morning Service – August 7, 2011

Carefully Think

The biblical book of Numbers has several of the most memorable scenes from Israel”™s early days after the Exodus. Read through the following sections and see if you can summarize the main idea and list any principles that you think would apply to God”™s people in general:

• Numbers 11
• Numbers 12
• Numbers 13-14
• Numbers 16
• Numbers 20
• Numbers 21-25

Prayerfully Meditate

The New Testament mentions a number of sections found in the book of Numbers. Read each passage and see if you can find where in Numbers the New Testament author is referring to and what the corresponding lesson for Christians is.

John 3:1-15

1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Hebrews 3:7-4:16

Intentionally Act

• From what you have read in the passages above, what sin needs to be acknowledged before God? What elements of praise should you express to Him? For what can you be specifically grateful in light of what you have been meditating upon from Numbers?
• Pray for those who will attend this Sunday and do not personally know the saving work of Christ. Pray their hearts will be opened to His mercy and changed through the Spirit”™s conviction.
• Pray that God”™s people will be appropriately challenged and encouraged, equipped to serve Christ well.
• Pray for those leading the service on Sunday (Dawson Bryant, music; Mark Krystyniak, prayer and Scripture reading, Bret Capranica, teaching). Pray that they will assist the congregation in acceptable praise to Christ. Pray for the others who will also be assisting to ensure our worship honors Christ (instrumentalists, visual and audio techs, ushers, etc.).
• Meditate on the lyrics of the songs for Sunday and listen to each through the weekend and you seek to saturate your heart with God”™s praise.

Songs for Sunday

Come People Of The Risen King

Your Name

Jesus Paid It All

Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me

Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed

Lyrics

Morning Service – July 31, 2011

Make Leviticus practical. In Leviticus last week we said it covered 5 ways we live with God – or that He lives with us: sacrifice, mediation, purity, atonement, and holiness.  Jesus fulfills all of those. The sacrificial system made atonement very practical, vivid, and constant for the Jewish people. How can it be for us.

CJ Mahaney’s book, The Cross-Centered Life, suggests a few ways to preach the gospel to yourself regularly:

• Memorize the gospel
• Pray the gospel
• Sing the gospel
• Review the effects of the gospel
• Study the Gospel

Books recommended in the video:

The Discipline of Grace, Jerry Bridges

The Cross-Centered Life, C.J. Mahaney

The Cross of Christ, John R. W. Stott

Carefully Think

• Read through Leviticus 1-5 and make a list of the various offerings Israel was to give.
  • What was the role of the priest?
  • What did the one making the offering have to do?
  • What was the overarching reason for all of the offerings?
  • Read Leviticus 10. What was Nadab and Abihu”™s failure? What does this suggest about God? What does it suggest about people and their approach to God”™s commands?
  • Read Leviticus 16.
    • What is the main theme of this chapter?
    • Who”™s sin was covered? How?
    • What do you learn about how sin is atoned for in this chapter?
    • Read Leviticus 18-20. What is the overarching motive mentioned over and over that should move the Israelites to obedience?

Prayerfully Meditate

• According to Leviticus, how much of life was treated as worship? What does this suggest about how God”™s people should think about life?
• According to Leviticus how do you know that God took public worship so seriously? What does it suggest to us about our approach to worshiping God?
• Read Hebrews 8-10. In what ways is Jesus the fulfillment of what you read in Leviticus?
• Read Matthew 5-6. In what ways is Jesus the fulfillment of what you read in Leviticus?
• What should the most significant effect of Leviticus be on your approach to worship this Sunday?

Intentionally Act

• What areas of sin have been brought to your mind in contemplating Leviticus and its affect on worship and life? Confess those specifically to God in prayer.
• Respond in prayer to God for what you have learned from Leviticus and Hebrews (mentioned above) and the role Jesus plays in atoning for sin.
• Pray for those in church this Sunday who do not know Christ, that their hearts will be affected and changed by God”™s grace.
• Pray that the saints will be edified and encouraged ““ strengthened and prepared for ministry this Sunday. Pray that our worship together will be holy and our enjoyment will be found in God.
• Pray for those leading the service this week (Dawson Bryant, music; Sam Karl, prayer and Scripture reading, Bret Capranica, teaching). Pray that they will each assist the congregation in appropriate and passionate praise to Christ. Pray for all who will be assisting in worship (instrumentalists, visual and audio techs, ushers, etc.). Pray they will each help the church focus on Christ.
• Meditate on the lyrics of the songs for Sunday. Play them through the weekend so that your worship through song is more thoughtful, free, and focused.

Songs for Sunday

Agnus Dei

Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty

In Christ Alone

Jesus, Thank You

What A Savior

Psalm 62

Lyrics

Morning Service – July 24, 2011

Carefully Think

• This Sunday we will be finishing up with Exodus 19-40. Our focus will be from chapters 32-40. Read through these chapters and see if you can identify and write down the main idea for each of them.

• Read Exodus 32 again. Note carefully, who did Israel and Aaron say the golden calf represented? How does Israel”™s sin relate to any of the Ten Commandments?

• Chapters 25-31 and 36-40 describe the construction of the Tabernacle. Why do you think this was so important in Israel”™s life? What indications do you see in the text?

Prayerfully Meditate

• From reading chapters 32-34, what lessons was Israel to learn about themselves and about relating to God? How would those lessons correlate to us?
• In what ways do we pursue idolatry as Israel did in chapter 32?
• How would you relate your passion for God”™s glory to Moses”™ passion for God”™s glory as seen in 33-34?

Intentionally Act

• From what you have been seeing both last week and this week, how should Exodus be impacting your approach to worship with God”™s people each Sunday? What needs to be enhanced, stopped, changed ““ in your personal approach to corporate worship?
• Spend some time praying for those who will be leading the service on Sunday (Bret Capranica, teaching; Dawson Bryant, music; Mark Krystyniak, prayer and Scripture reading). Pray that they will be thoughtful, focused, encouraging, helpful to the body, and full of Christ in their leadership.
• Pray for others who will be participating in the worship service ““ that they will have servant”™s hearts, affection for Christ that encourages others, focus on how their service will benefit the body.
• Meditate on the lyrics of the songs for Sunday. Play them through the weekend so that your worship through song is more thoughtful, free, and focused.

Songs for Sunday

Holy Is The Lord
Our God
All Because Of Jesus
All I Have Is Christ

Lyrics

Morning Service – July 17, 2011

How to Meditate on Sunday’s Message

How to Meditate on Sunday’s Message

In this week’s Mid-Week Minutes:

This is VBS week – thank you to Stacy McCommon for the devoted leadership and to all who have given so much of their time and energy to teach Scripture to our kids.

How to Meditate on Sunday’s Message:

• Re-read the passage
• Review the Main idea of the message
• Rehearse the main points that unfold the main idea
• Think through an application grid of questions on each point
  • How seen in salvation history?
  • Impact on the lost?
  • Impact on the culture
  • Impact on a Christian
  • Impact on our Church

Application Grids:

• Example filled out
• Blank grid

Carefully Think

• We didn”™t finish our tour of Genesis last week, so try and read through Genesis 32-50 and see if you can summarize each chapter”™s theme.
• As you read, look for and perhaps underline the activity you see God doing directly.
• Read again Genesis 50. Who was behind all of the negative events of Joseph”™s life? Think through this one carefully. What was Joseph”™s response to these circumstances and those involved?

Prayerfully Meditate

• What lessons would you write down from what you have read in the latter part of Genesis (32-50)?
• How have you been responding to the events in your own life? How much like Joseph have your responses been ““ or unlike? Why? What is it that keeps you from responding like Joseph? What has helped your responses to resemble his that you could capitalize on even more?
• What lesson what God teaching the original writers of the book of Genesis? How should we apply that lesson today?

Intentionally Act

• List unique events that have occurred in you or your family”™s life over the past year. Spend a moment meditating on how God has been involved and what you have learned about Him (and about yourself) through them.
• Spend some time in prayer, thanking God for His providence, confessing any sin for failed responses, seeking wisdom on how to respond to current issues unique to you.
• Pray for those in our gathering this week who do not know Christ. Pray that God will awaken their hearts through His word and bring them to the knowledge of Christ.
• Pray that the entire body will be strengthened in our confidence in Christ this Sunday.
• Pray for those who will be leading the service ““ that they will equip the saints, encourage us in how they lead, and keep us focused on the glory of God.
• Meditate on the lyrics of the songs we will sing this Sunday. Listen to these songs through the weekend to prepare yourself to sing with the church.

Songs for This Sunday:

Praise the Lord

Revelation Song

There Is A Higher Throne

How Great Thou Art

Lyrics:

Morning Service – June 26, 2011

Carefully Think

“¢ If you have the time, read through Genesis 1-11 and make a list of the most significant events in these chapters.
“¢ Who are most significant people in these chapters?
“¢ What do you learn about man and his relationship to God from these chapters?
“¢ For a more significant reading, read through Genesis 1-11 and underline every phrase that indicates God”™s activity. What do you learn about God?

Prayerfully Meditate

“¢ From reading through Genesis 1-11, what issues of life are brought up in these chapters and where do you see them (i.e., marriage, worship, interpersonal relationships, sin, parenting, pride, humility, dependence on God, etc.)?
“¢ Which of these issues is most relevant to your life right now? Why? What does the book of Genesis suggest is most biblical way to deal with it? How?

Intentionally Act

“¢ Make a list of any appropriate responses you think would help you apply your answer given in the last statement above. When and how can you carry these out, by God”™s grace, and in absolute dependence upon him?
“¢ Make a list of issues or subject raised in Genesis 1-11 that you would like to give greater study or attention to. Which one should you begin addressing? When could you begin studying it further (this week?)?
“¢ Pray for our church as a whole that we will all respond to God”™s word corporately.
“¢ Pray for those who will be leading us through the service Sunday. Pray that our hearts will honor God and that our actions will be helpful in edifying the entire body.
“¢ Meditate on the lyrics of the songs that we will be singing (see below). To listen to or download these songs, click on the links below.

Songs we will sing:

Creation Sings the Father’s Song

Lyrics:

Morning Service – June 12, 2011

Carefully Think

• Read Romans 12:14-21. From this passage what ways are given to display the gospel when you are personally wronged or hurt.
• Can you think of any recent event, interaction, or issue in your life that one of these ways you listed above would apply?
• What constitutes persecution (v 14)?
• Who are the lowly (v 16)?
• Who would biblically be considered your enemy (v 20)?

Prayerfully Meditate

• Which of the ways to respond, among those you listed above, seems to speak most pointedly to you? Why?
• Pray and ask God to give you wisdom in how you should apply the exhortation you see in the passage.  Write out a few ways you could apply one or two of these exhortations.

Intentionally Act

• Who do you need to speak to this week in light of how you responded above? Could you send a note of encouragement to someone?
• What are practical ways you could take the initiative to make sure you are living at peace with someone you find yourself at odds (v 18)?
• Pray for our church as a whole that we would evidence the characteristics mentioned in this passage.
• Pray for those who will be leading and assisting us in worship today. Pray that we honor the Lord and encourage each other in our gathering this week.
• Meditate on the lyrics of the songs we will be singing (see below).  To listen to or download the songs, click on the links below.

Songs we will sing:

Morning Service – June 5, 2011

This week’s message will be the first of a 2 part series entitled, “Gospel-Centered Living” from Romans 12:9-13.

Carefully Think

• Read Romans 12:9-13.  Make a list of what the different characteristics you find here.
• After listing each one, try and write down a short definition of what each of them means.  Can you think of any other Scriptures that would help you define them?
• What is the connection between these verses and the ones preceding them?

Prayerfully Meditate

• How could you practically and consciously give attention to so many different gospel-driven characteristics?
• Which ones seem to be most practical to you in your life at the current moment? Why?
• What sin should you confess? Any relationships that need attention? How grateful should you be for the characteristics you do see in your life? Spend a few moments in prayerful reflection, confession, and thanksgiving.

Intentionally Act

• Circle the characteristic that needs the most attention in your life. List the top 3 actions you can begin to take, by God”™s enabling grace, to strengthen this characteristic in your own life?
• Have you seen any of these characteristics uniquely demonstrated in the someone else”™s life? Who? How? Write them a note expressing how grateful you are to see God”™s grace being expressed in them. Or take a minute to have a personal conversation with them and express how you have seen God”™s grace uniquely displayed in their character. Encourage them.
• Pray for those who will be involved in this week”™s worship gathering Pray that they will all demonstrate these characteristics and help the congregation to focus together on God”™s Word.
• Pray for those who do not know Christ to hear and see the gospel displayed clearly. Pray that God will open their hearts to Christ.
• Meditate on the lyrics of the songs we will sing Sunday (found below)
• Listen to the music we will sing and familiarize yourself with it so you can participate well in our congregational singing (found below).

Songs for Sunday:

Lyrics for Sunday:

Morning Service – May 29, 2011